Projects, Demonstrations, and Activities That Engage Liberal Arts Mathematics Students

MAA Session on Projects, Demonstrations, and Activities That Engage Liberal Arts Mathematics Students

Thursday, January 10, 2013, 8:00 AM - 11:55 AM

and

Friday, January 11, 2013, 3:30 PM - 5:25 PM

Sarah L. Mabrouk, Framingham State University, Organizer

Many colleges and universities offer liberal arts mathematics courses (lower-level courses other than statistics, college algebra, precalculus, and calculus) designed for students whose majors are in disciplines other than mathematics, science, social science, or business. Students taking such courses have a variety of backgrounds, strengths, and levels of interest/comfort with mathematics.

This session invites papers regarding projects, demonstrations, and activities that can be used to enhance the learning experience for students taking liberal arts mathematics courses. Papers should include information about the topic(s) related to the project/demonstration/activity, preliminary information that must be presented, and the goal(s)/outcome(s) for the project/demonstration/activity. Presenters discussing demonstrations and activities are encouraged to give the demonstration or perform the activity if time and equipment allow, and to discuss the appropriateness of the demonstration/activity for the learning environment and the class size. Presenters discussing projects are encouraged to address how the project was conducted, presented, evaluated, as well as grading issues, if any, and the rubric used to appraise the students’ work. Each presenter is encouraged to discuss how the project/demonstration/activity fits into the course, the use of technology, if any, the students’ reactions, and the effect of the project/demonstration/activity on the students’ attitudes towards and understanding of mathematics.

Session I - Thursday, January 10, 2013, 8:00 AM - 11:55 AM

Room 5A, Upper Level, San Diego Convention Center

8:00 AM

Developing Voting Systems on the First Day: an IBL Approach.

Eric B. Kahn*, Bloomsburg University

(1086-M5-538)

8:20 AM

Voting Alliances: Using Politics to Motivate Combinatorial Counting.

Christopher S Shaw*, Columbia College Chicago

(1086-M5-2946)

8:40 AM

The Future of Voting: Engaging students through designing voting systems.